I'm not the perfect model of what an athlete should be, mentally or physically. Victoria Pendleton More Quotes by Victoria Pendleton More Quotes From Victoria Pendleton It's a risky business being a cyclist in the UK, there are a lot of people who really dislike us. It's the Jeremy Clarkson influence - we're hated on the roads. We just hope people realise we are just flesh and bones on two wheels. Victoria Pendleton cycling two people It really is all about believing in yourself: 80 per cent mental, 20 per cent physical. Victoria Pendleton confidence self-esteem believe Succeeding in sport is about how much practise you put in. Victoria Pendleton practise succeed sports In competition, everything is very well planned in advance and very well detailed. You just stick to the plan, keep your head down and be as disciplined as possible in every aspect, whether sleep, recovery or the intensity of your training. And it's all recorded; the data is analysed. Victoria Pendleton recovery data sleep When you see your male counterparts living a completely different lifestyle, I think it would be quite depressing! So no, it's not for me. Victoria Pendleton males depressing thinking I don't think I really knew how fit I was when I was a kid. I rode with my dad quite long distances and I've been racing since the age of nine, so we did a lot of sport growing up. My earliest memories of my dad are watching him race, so it was inevitable when we were old enough that my brother and I would get on bikes. Victoria Pendleton growing-up brother sports I really love routine and so I've never found it a problem. I really enjoy it. I don't mind somebody organising what I have to do. I'm a creature of habit in some ways. Victoria Pendleton routine mind way I like to eat healthily anyway and I think I've become more disciplined now I've retired - because I'm such a creature of habit, I don't find it hard to do. I quite enjoy the challenge. Victoria Pendleton habit challenges thinking I'm definitely capable of just enjoying riding my bike these days. Victoria Pendleton days just bike riding Oh, I am an angel, though sometimes I wish I was more of a devil. Victoria Pendleton i-am devil angel sometimes I naturally favour a clean, healthy diet. A salad sandwich is one of my favourite meals! Victoria Pendleton sandwich diet salad clean People may think I'm crazy, but one of the ways I like to wind down my Friday is to get some of our household chores done, whether it's cleaning or doing a big food shop, so the house is all nice for the weekend. Victoria Pendleton crazy food wind people I used to have a rant all the time when things went wrong, at everybody around me, because you just have to get the frustration out. Victoria Pendleton me you frustration time I genuinely enjoy the process of making colourful, delicious food. But I do allow myself an occasional piece of chocolate - today I had a pastry. If I fancy something, I'll have it. Victoria Pendleton myself enjoy food today Winning the gold medal should have been the happiest day of my entire life, and it just wasn't. It felt like the saddest day of my life. Everyone was so angry with us, that Scott and I had fallen in love, because it was so unprofessional, and we were a disgrace and had betrayed everybody. Victoria Pendleton my-life day love life I have always loved animals and groomed friends' horses as a child. I think I may have even ridden the odd seaside donkey in my early years. Victoria Pendleton loved child think friends People will put restrictions on your ability, on your aptitude, on your talent, on your character, and to be honest, it's just opinion. Don't let anyone put you in a box or draw your path for you. Victoria Pendleton you path character people The sprint is sometimes like a toss of a coin. Sometimes it's heads, and sometimes it's tails. Victoria Pendleton coin like sprint sometimes People say, 'Wow, you've achieved it all this year: two world championship wins and an Olympic gold medal.' And I think, 'Yeah, but how come I feel so unsatisfied and under pressure all over again?' Victoria Pendleton feel you people world I beat myself up the whole time because I'm striving for something I'll basically never achieve. I portray this image of confidence, of arrogance, and it's not really me. I'm never satisfied, and I'm never content. It means I'm a bit of a mess some of the time. Victoria Pendleton myself me confidence time
